Step Up! – Be Loving – Proverbs 4:3b

Step Up!

A Study of Proverbs 4:1-3
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Pastor Jonathan Damon

Introduction

Step Up! explores the timeless wisdom of Proverbs 4 that’s rooted in a father’s wisdom to his children. In a world full of distractions, confusion, and competing voices, we will uncover what it means to live with purpose, lead with wisdom, and walk in godly character. Through practical and biblical truth, we’ll wrestle with the importance of discipline, discernment, instruction, gentleness, and love—qualities that shape strong fathers, faithful believers, healthy families, and purposeful lives. Step Up! offers a challenge for us all to grow, mature, and take the next step God is calling us to.

June 21 – Be Purposeful – Proverbs 4:1a

June 28 – Discipline – Proverbs 4:1b

July 5 – Discern – Proverbs 4:1c

July 12 – Instruct – Proverbs 4:2

July 19 – Be Gentle – Proverbs 4:3

July 26 – Be Loving – Proverbs 4:3

IMPACT Church 101 E. First Ave. Parkesburg, PA 19365
(610) 857-3887 [email protected]

Be Loving

Proverbs 4:3 & Exodus 34

1. as your Father you.

⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9

Notes:

2. Have I lived my life based more on or being rooted in the gracious of the living God?

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 103:8

Notes:

3. God’s choices: , ,

^6b “I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. ⁷ I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;” Exodus 34:6b-7b

Notes:

4. Hesed // When the person from whom I have a right to expect gives me .

Notes:

Challenge:

How am I becoming a person who loves like God loves me?

Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshipped. Exodus 34:8

We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 2 Corinthians 3:13

HESED when we don’t deserve it.

But God showed his great LOVE for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still . Romans 5:8

⁴ But God is so rich in MERCY, and he LOVED us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 2:4-5a

⁴ But – When God our Savior revealed his KINDNESS and love, ⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of his MERCY. Titus 3:4-5a

Growth Challenge:

This week make sure your good works are the result of God’s HESED LOVE and His grace, not an attempt to earn them.

Read Psalm 20 in preparation for next week’s message.

All Bible verses are from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.